MATTERS are improving at a popular park which has been blighted by anti-social behaviour.
Problems at Denbigh’s Lower Park have multiplied over recent months, but North Wales Police district inspector Dewi Roberts is confident that things are getting better at the lower Denbigh site.
“Matters have improved greatly,” said Insp Roberts earlier this week.
“The vast majority of young people are using the park responsibly and it’s a small minority causing trouble.”
Members of Denbigh Town Council had raised concerns on a number of issues of concern at Lower Park, while residents appealed for a concerted effort to sweep the anti social behaviour away.
At a recent meeting of Denbigh Town Council, members detailed their concerns about drug dealing, alcohol consumption, bottle throwing, bowling green damage and general anti social behaviour.
Cllr Rob Parkes, chairman of town group Ramps and Rails, which has a skatepark at the Lower Park site said: “We need to find proper solutions that work and we need to push them through. I think it’s about time it’s cracked down.
“We have all got a part to play in this. It’s about time we accept responsibility for the park.”
Cllr Parkes said there were two issues surrounding the site, the first being a “Friday night is party night” culture and the other was racers using the nearby slip road.
“There’s drug use and alcohol,” he added.
Town councillor and Denbighshire County Council member for Denbigh Lower Cllr Raymond Bartley stressed that the “area has been a source of concern for quite a few years”.
Following a meeting, Cllr Bartley said that the idea of securing CCTV coverage in the park pavilion was mooted, while discussions on the subject of dispersal orders were ongoing, he added.
Community Sergeant Arwel Ellis told councillors that dispersal orders are “a great power for us”.
“We do have preliminary dispersal orders. If people are causing problems that are alcohol-related we can ban them from there for 48 hours,” added Sgt Ellis, who said a CCTV camera had been placed by Denbigh Town FC’s ground.
“The best deterrent in my opinion is enforcement. If we are given details I will make sure my officers are down there enforcing,” said Sgt Ellis.
Insp Roberts said officers had no evidence of any drug dealing taking place and he added: “We are reviewing whether we need dispersal orders.
“The dispersal order is something we are looking at in partnership... but matters have improved down there.”
He added: “We are going to monitor it and work with the young people.”
The head of Denbighshire County Council’s leisure services Jamie Groves added: “It is terrible that skaters are not able to use the new skatepark because of the vandalism and broken glass that is there. They are now having to go to Ruthin and Rhyl to practise and this is not acceptable.”